To reach the park from the south, take Route 220 to the Pine Creek Exit near Jersey Shore. Follow Route 44 north 11 miles to Waterville, and then turn right onto Route 4001 and go four miles to the park. Continue north on this road to SGL 75 about two miles from the park.

For more information, contact Little Pine State Park, 4205 Little Pine Creek Road, Waterville, PA 17776-9705; or call (570) 753-6000. For general state park information or to reserve a campsite, cabin, picnic pavilion or organized group tenting area, call toll-free (888) PA-PARKS, Mon. to Sat. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A more direct route to SGL 75 from the south follows Route 287 north from Route 220 at Larrys Creek.

Get information about local services from the Lycoming County Visitors Bureau, 210 William Street, Williamsport, PA 17701; or call (570) 327-7700.

NORTHEAST REGION
"Last year (2004) wasn't bad at all," said Tim Conway, a Northeast Region spokesman, regarding reports from regional field personnel. "Over the summer, our crews saw quite a few broods. We have birds everywhere."

That should mean plenty of jakes to go along with a good supply of older turkeys. The previous spring, however, was cold and wet, which could mean fewer 2-year-old gobblers. Most of the longbeards will be wily, older birds.

State Game Lands 159 in Wayne County is tucked away in the extreme northeast corner of the state, surrounded by private land, where it might be overlooked.

"I don't think it's hunted as heavily as it could be except maybe the first day. After that, the pressure drops," Conway commented. "There are some areas where you can get off the beaten path."

Elevations vary from about 1,200 feet to more than 1,800 feet in the northern tract and from less than 1,100 feet to about 1,600 feet in the southern tract. Though the northern tract has a slightly greater variation in elevation, there is some more gentle terrain here.

Most of the area is wooded, partly oak-ash and partly beech-maple forest. There are ponds and wetlands in the northern tract. Some old timber remains along the creeks. Parts of the game lands have been logged. The Game Commission maintains openings for the benefit of wildlife.

Upper Woods Pond is in the northern tract. East Branch of Darby Creek flows through the southern tract. Both are stocked with trout. There are also native brook trout streams. Conway suggested this as a great place to hunt gobblers in the morning and fish for trout in the afternoon.

SGL 159 is northeast of the Scranton area. Drive east on Route 6 to Honesdale, north on Route 191, and then turn left to access the southern tract. For the northern tract, continue north on Route 191, turn west on Route 371 at Rileyville, and then turn right.

Information about places to stay and other local services are available from the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau Inc., 1004 Main Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360; or call (800) 762-6667.

SOUTHEAST REGION
Southwest Region spokesperson Cheryl Trewella said that field reports indicate a stable turkey population. As in much of the state, early nesting was poor last spring, but there was significant second nesting.

Public lands are comparatively scarce in this densely populated corner of the state. One of the larger public lands is State Game Lands 168, which covers 5,802 acres in Northampton, Carbon and Monroe counties. This is a fine place to scout for gobblers, and one of the nearest places to Philadelphia where you can get away from most hunting pressure, at least on weekdays. Access is from various side roads between Route 248 and Route 512 north from Allentown.